Building-block.



W. s. HUDSON. BUILDING BLOGK.

} APPLIOATIQN FILED APR.20,1914.

1,1 15,542. Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

H A j .11 1 1515 1148072, I Inventor I Attorneys r FIQE.

K313555393, or rrnnn snson, KENTUCKY.

' I eisnrrinrne sr=ocin I B ii ii -f Patented Nora 3,1914 nsa ion. 'serisiimsssses.

t T W v. p the center of curvature of the body 1 wherem 5:, Earlier Benson, by the parts niay ebut endwise' on a circular the finned ststes, residing at or z-ii-cnete line. The bodv 1' is constructed n the county of Henderson and of any suitable size desired; according o he lisve'invented a new and the circumstances. i Y \i loch, oi? which the follow The bodyl of the block is provided with p I i 1 .lre y portion 2 .projecti'ngv from one of its v nt ntent on spperte ns to buildfeces, intermediate the ends of the body 1 s to provide novel and the sides of the portion 2 adjacent the ends: 65

lilnnlding block for constructing of the block 1 being disposed" on dines exnsries cisterns reservoirs and tending radially from the center of curvandricel structures. j t ture of the body- 1, similar to the ends of the lpresent invention contemplates the body. The other sidesof the portion 2 are provisioned e uniquebuilding block where convened and concaved similar to the outer g will interlock. with its com-t and inner sides of the body 1; so as to be pa non; he in, e peculiar and eidective tiosh therewith. l

annor sothetthe circuls'irwell formed by The body 1 is provided with a pair of ths jb'lockswill resist or withstand the ontsenii-key portions 3 prog'ecting from its other Ward pressure to which the well may be face at the ends of the body 1, and flush gen cted, as is particularly desirable in with the end portions of the body. The port grs-criesend other similar strnctiu-es. tions 3 taper inwardly, similar to the oppoh g, slse-withinthe scope of the present site key portion 2, the key portion 2 being AGE/C0 .a building block of the of a, width approximately equal to the comis d, r; msy be, simply and. bined or'egg regate widths o f the-portions 3, 30

inch d or otherwise fa'shwhereby the recess 4 between the portions W433i will be simple and non 3 will be approximately (Jo-extensive with c we in "in construction, as well as bethe portion 2 which lie'sopposite' the recess.

' .gicon eni practical and 'eficient in Theend recesses 5 rovided by the portion h ,I v il which is dispose midway between the g nth the foregoing: and other objects in ends of the body 1, are approximately 00- rwhich will appear as the description extensive with the opposite key portions3. eeds invention resides in the combi- The key and semi-key portions of the block and srrsngeinentoztparts and in the are-tapered from the convexed to the conion hereinafter described caved-side of the block, as will be epparent., 90

it being"- understood that It is preferable, although not necessary,

. precise embodiment of the in to provide thecentral portion of the body 1 .ierr, n disclosed-cell be made within and the projecting portion 2 with an open- Wltfitili claimed without departing- 6; and torprovide the ends of the body 1 m or the invention. and the corresponding sides of the project 5 111. ,ion has been illustratedin its ing portions 3 with semi circular channels edembodimentin the accompanying or cavities 7, for the purpose which shall v hereinafter appear. I v v Figure 1 is e perspective View of the 1n1- If the block 1s constructed of concrete or --elsretioh illustrating a; portion of a rein-forced, by ldngitudinal reinforcing rods well "constri'icted with the improved or'bars 8 embedded-wlt-hln the body 1 at the e 'gy gi'igling block. Fig. 2 is e fregother plastic, material, the same ispreferably 1 Bis plan view of the frag sides of the opening'o and having angular weii construction illustrated in ends e'nge'ging within the portions 3, as sug- 1 gcsted in'dottedlinesin-Fig; 2. Similarly,

h1 1 ilding"block,' which may reinforcing barsorrods'9 may'be'e'mbedded' ionstruoted cit-concrete wood or "other within the projecting portion 2. Thus, the i comprises sn srcuate body l the longitudina -l1reinforcing rods 8 bein e m.-- oinsof"cnrvstureof which may be of any bedded within 1 the block, and, having the ,ahle length according to the diameter of engiilar end flportionsfengeging within the structure or well to be built. The ends portions 3 qffthe-block; will prevent the said do Its-lie in lines redieting frond portions? renaming broken off,- underthe strainsto which they aresubjected when the circular'wall.

In building up a wall with the presentblocks, the blocks are arranged in circular courses, and the blocks of each course are arranged end to *end; The blocks 1' lower course 10, as illustrated in Fig. 2, are preferably devoid of the portions 3, in order torest flatly upomnthe base or toundation; but-have the portions 2' which project upwardly. The blocks of the second course 1 are-inverted and staggered relative to the blocks 1 of the lower course 10, so that the key portions 2 of thebloc'ks'of'the course 11 dependv and fit snugly within-the recesses '5;5 between theupstanding portions 2 ot the blocks 1. Thus, the portions 3 of the blocks of the second course 11 project upwardly, and=the adjacent portions 3 of the respective blocks oft-he second course abut against each other, and provide key portions 8 projecting upwardly. The blocks of the-third course 12 are inverted and staggered relative to the blocks of the second course 11, and have their semi-key portions 3 projecting downwardly and abutting, similar' to the blocks of the second course. Thus, the depending portions 3 of the third course 12 fit within the upwardly disposed recesses t of the blocks of the second course ll while the upstanding portions 3 of the. blocks of the second course fit snugly Within the downwardly disposed recesses 4 of the blocks of the third course 12. The blocks of the fourth course 13 are disposed similar to the blocks of the second course 11, and having the upwardly disposed portions 2 of the blocks of the third course 12. In this manner. the alternateportions of blocks are inverted and staggered relative to the adjacent or intervening courses, the key portions of the blocks of the adjacent. courses interlocking or interengaging in a unique manner. It is of course understood that the wall may be constructed in arcuate or circular form, and to any height desired. The diameter of the structure depends upon the radius or curvature of the blocks, which may be altered in view of the various circumstances.

The blocks may be bound or bonded together by cement or mortar, in the usual manner, it being noted that the blocks are arranged in a break joint manner, which is desirable for obvious reasons. openings or recesses? are provided in the blocks, they not only lighten the weight of the blocks, but provide channels or passages within the wall, for the reason that theblocks when abutting endwise cause the recesses T of the adjacent ends of the blocks to match or mate each other,to register with the central oneningsti of the over and underlying blocks,

of the their lower portions 2 fitting between When the as will be obvious by "reference to Figs. 2 blocks are assembled in building a curved or and 3. In this manner, the wall. may be provided with vertical passages or channels, which is desirable inmany instances. 4

"Particular attention is directed to the fact that the blocks of the successive or super imposed courses being interlockdj-in thb manner above described, will enable the wall to resist outward pressure in a most efiectlve manner. Thus, thecoac'ting recesses'fi' of the blocks of the second course llrengaging over theportions 2-ott1hefhlocks-of the first or lower course :10, will. serve to lock the blockslof thBrSGCOIld course 11 against outward movement, inasmucha's the'portions 2 of the blocks of-the lowercourse 10 will tend to resist outward displacement of the blocks of the second course; Similarly, the blocks of the third course 12 having their recesses 4 engaged over the coiiperating portions 3--3 of the blocks of the second course, will lock the blocks of the thirdcourse 12 against outward movement, due to the tapered or Wedge form of the cooperating portions 3--3 and the recesses 4. In this manner, blocks of the successive courses are interlocked in such a manner as to enable the wall to effectively resist the outward pressure by the bulging or expanding effect to the contents of the structure as is most noticeable in silos, g'ranaries cisterns, and

the like, wherein hoops are usually em: ployed for resisting the outward pressure.

The present invention eliminates the use of hoops or hands or embracing the structure, inasmuch as the interlocked blocks will in themselves bebound together to hold them intact, even under considerable pressure from the inside.

From the foregoing, withthe drawing, the advantages and capabilities of the present inventionwill beobvious to those versed further comment being necessary.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is A curved wall comprising superimposed courses of blocks arranged end to end, each block comprising an arcuate body having a key portion projecting trom'one face intermediate'its ends, and providing end re cesses, and semi-key portions projecting from the other face of the block at its ends, and providing an intermediate recess therebetween, the k'eyand semi-key portions being tapered from the convexed to the concaved sides of the blocks, the first mentioned key portions of the blocks fitting within the corresponding end recesses of the companion blocks, the cooperating semi-key portions fitting Within the intermediate recesse's of the companion blocks. the central portion and key portion of each block having an opening, the ends and semi-key portions of the blocks having channels, the

taken in connection 4 05 in the art, without channels of the'bl ecksregistering to provfle I asmy own, I have hereto afiixed my signa- Y openings aiming with the central openings ture inthe presence of two witnesses. 10 ef the compzinion blocks, and iengitudina'l reiufercin reds embedded ithin the body. WILLIAM S. HUDSON 0f each h ock at the sides of the central v v epenix ag and havmgangular end portions W'itnesses:

engegmg within the semi-key portions, JNo. F. MITCH LL, I In testimony that claim the foregoing M. S. McCoRMmK, 

